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Communities Secretary will set out vision for
invigorating high streets and tackling social problems
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New figures show scale of opportunity for new housing
and community hubs as Secretary of State launches Open Doors
project
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Announcement comes as Secretary of State kicks off new
Community Roadshow in Bristol
The Communities Secretary, will today (7 November)
set out his vision for tackling social problems linked to
declining high streets – such as crime, unemployment and
loneliness.
Speaking at the Locality Convention in Bristol the Communities
Secretary will launch the Government’s flagship Open Doors
project, linking landlords with vacant retail units with
community groups offering vital services to young and old.
Communities Secretary Rt Hon will say:
“We need to be imaginative in tackling the social and economic
challenges our communities face.
“This includes seizing the enormous opportunity before us to
transform our high streets into vibrant community hubs where
people work, live and shop.
“That is why I’m delighted to be launching the new Open Doors
project that will see empty shops being opened up to community
groups offering services to the most vulnerable in our
communities."
Reflecting on the scale of the opportunity offered by converting
empty retail units into homes and community hubs the Communities
Secretary will point to new figures showing that there are
currently over 27,000 premises lying
vacant in England’s town centres. If just a fraction of these
vacant premises were turned into homes, thousands more people
could have a roof over their head.
Research also shows that higher numbers of residents on our high
streets can generate higher footfall and, in turn, higher demand
for shops and services.
The Communities Secretary will also launch a new Community
Roadshow, which will see him and his ministerial team travelling
across the country to learn from and celebrate the work being
done by community groups.
The first of the Roadshow visits will see the Communities
Secretary visiting a winter shelter and a community-led housing
project in Bristol.
